Theft alarm switch



S@Pt- 3, 1938. J. F. Huss 2,130,303

THEFT ALARM SWITCH Filed April 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Shee l Jsepu E zws Sept. 13, 1938. J, F HUSS 2,130,303

THEFT ALARM SWITCH Filed April 20, 1936 2 ShetS-Sheet 2 1/ I v J9 40 :ff

ISrmentor Josep Elas@ ELF-Ze, 4)

ittornegst GII Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES THEFT ALARM SWITCH Joseph F. Huss, Charlotte, N. C., assignor of onehalf to Burman K. Blalock, Charlotte, N. C.

Application April 20,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to theft alarms, and is an improvement over the construction embodied in my Patent No. 2,000,136 which issued May '7, 1935.

In the construction embodied in my prior patent there were incorporated a number of solenoids which actuated a circuit making and breaking means, and it is in order to eliminate the use of the solenoids that the hereinafter described invention was conceived and designed. This invention has for an important object thereof the provision of a manually operable circuit making and breaking means which may be used in motor vehicles or buildings of various types so as to tmake or break the main electric circuits and to make or break one or more signal circuits, and in the case of buildings to, at the same time the signal circuits are closed, also close a night light circuit, as in the case of stores or like establishments where a night light is left burning in the vicinity of a safe.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a' compound switch for making and breaking a plurality of electric circuits, the switch being so constructed that it may be operated from a remote point, so that in the case of motor vehicles the switch may be positioned in a concealed place, as beneath a, hood which is capable of being locked, the operating means for the iswitch being such as to permit the use of a suitable locking means to permit the positioning of the operating means on the dashboard of the vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a. switch construction which may be interposed in a plurality of electric circuits, the switch being of such a simple construction as to permit the manufacture and sale of the switch at a very low cost.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in` the claim appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols` refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch constructed according to an embodiment of this invention, the switch being shown interposed in a. plurality of electric circuits which are shown in diagrammatic form.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the light circuit contacts in closed position` 1936, Serial No. 75,450

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a modified form of this switch designed for use with building circuits, and showing the switch interposed in a plurality of electric circuits which are shown in diagrammatic form.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral I0 designates a base of suitable construction, and preferably of insulating material, which is provided with a pair of uprights or posts I2 and I3, one adjacent each end of the base.

A rod or slide member II is slidably carried by the uprights or posts I2 and I3 at a point spaced upwardly from the top of the base I0, and an insulated body I4 is secured to the rod II between the uprights or posts I2 and I3, and this body I4 is shorter in length than the distance between the uprights or posts I2 and I3 so that the rod II with the body I4 secured thereto may have sliding movement with respect to the supports I2 and I3.

'I'he base I0 is adapted to be positioned beneath the hood of a motor vehicle which is capable of being locked or in some other suitable concealed place. A pair of main contacts I5 and I6 are secured to the base I and are adapted to wipe the insulated body. The contact I is adapted to be secured as by a conductor I1 to one side of a battery or other source of electric current supply I8, and the other side of the battery I8 is adapted to be grounded to the frame of the vehicle in the usual manner. A bridging member I9 is secured to the insulated body I4, and is adapted in one position of the slide, comprising the rod II and the body I4, to engage between the contacts I5 and I6 and in another position of the slide to be disposed in spaced relation to the contacts I5 and I6 to break the circuit in which the contacts or wipers` I5 and I6 are interposed.

A conductor 20 is connected at one end to the contact I5 and at the other end to an amnieter A of usual construction and here shown diagrammatically. A conductor 2| leads from the ammeter A to a starter motor switch 22, the starter motor M being connected at one side to the conductor 2| and at the other side being connected to the ground.

A conductor 23 is connected at one end to the conductor 2| and at the other end to a terminal 24 constituting a part of an ignition switch, generally designated as 25. This switch 25 cornprises a substantially Y-shaped member 26 which is pivoted as at 21 to a suitable base (not shown), and the stem portion of this Y-shaped member 2E is adapted to wipe the fixed terminal or contact 24. One arm 28 of the switch 25 is adapted to engage a terminal 29 when the switch 25 is in a position to close the ignition circuit, and the other arm 3i] of the Y-shaped member 2b is adapted, when the ignition circuit is opened to engage a terminal or contact 3i. A conductor 32 is connected at one end to the terminal 3l, and at the other end is connected to a yieldable contact or wiper 33 which is secured to the base I6 in a position for engagement with the rod Il which is preferably a metal rod.

A second yieldable contact 34 is secured to the base id in opposed relation to the contact or wiper 33, and a conductor 35 is connected at one end to the contact Ell and at the other end to the ground. Preferably a signal light 35 is interposed in the conductor 35 so that in one position of the slide, that is when the rod ii is disposed between the confronting ends of the contacts 33 and 34, which is the vehicle running position of the slide, this signal light circuit is adapted to be closed provided the ignition switch E5 is moved to break the ignition circuit and complete the circuit from the conductor 23, through the terminal 24, arm 3Q and terminal 3l to the conductor 32. In Figure 1 the slide is shown in the signal operating position, and in this position the ends of at least one of the contacts 33 and Sli are disposed in spaced relation to the adjacent end oi the rod l i so that the circuit in which the light 36 is interposed will be broken.

This signal light 38 is designed for the purpose of indicating to the operator of the vehicle whether or not the ignition switch is turned on when the slide l l-M is in a vehicle running position. More particularly the signal light is designed for the purpose of indicating, when it is lighted that the motor is stopped so that it will be safe for an attendant to place gasoline the tank of the vehicle, it being understood that many of the gasoline engines at present available are so designed that the operator cannot determine from any physical condition with respect to the Vehicle, aside from operating the clutch, whether or not the engine is running. When the ignition switch 25 is in its off position, the engine indicating signal 3@ will be lighted -at all times, it being understood that at this time the slide illi4 is in a vehicle running position.

A pair of alarm signal contacts 3l and SS are secured tothe base lil, one on each side of the slide i in wiping contact therewith, and a bridging member 39 is carried by the slide member lll and is adapted in one position of the slide member i@ to bridge the two contacts Sl and 38. The contact 3l is connected to the conductor i'i, in this instance through connection with the contact i5, and the contact 38 has one end of a conductor connected thereto, the opposite end of the conductor lit being connected to a signal ii which may be oi either a sound producing type or any other character of signal. conductor t?, through the contacts 3B, 3l', i5, and the conductor il, connects the sign-al to one side of the battery i8. The other or ground side of the battery EB is connected to the signal 6l by means of a conductor (i2, which is connected to the signal il and to a contact ifi secured to the base Hl.

En 'the signal operating position of the slide ld, which position is shown in Fig. l, the contact 43 wipes the bridging member I9, A contact 56 is also secured to the base EQ, and in the present instance engages the top of the slide id, and is adapted to wipe the bridging member i9. rEhe Contact is connected, as by a conductor 5, to one side of an alarm switch. E which is biased by a spring il to a closed position. The other side of the switch is connected as by a conductor ld to the frame ci the Vehicle to thereby complete the circuit from the battery i8 to the signal fil. The complete signal circuit is as follows: Starting from one side ci the battery i8 through conductor il', contacts i-3"i, bridging member contact S8, conductor liti, signal di, conductor Contact 43, bridging member i9, contact (l, conductor 135,

switch and conductor it? to the ground or opposite side oi the battery.

The compound switch here disclosed is also adapted to control the operation of the light circuit of the vehicle, and in order to do this, a conductor it leads to a contact 5d carried by the base iii, and a switch 5l is interposed in this conductor lig. This switch 5l is a conventional light switch of the manually operated type. A contact 52 is secured to the base IE! and in the present instance this contact is of the yieldable type, being biased to closed position. Preierabiy the adjacent end of the slide M is slightly tapered, as at 53, so that when the slide if, is moved to signal operating position the ta ered end of the slide lll will spread the contact apart from the contact and when the slide iii is in a vehicle running position the two contacts 5d and 52 will be in contacting position, these two positions being more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The conductor i9 is connected to the conductor 2i at one side of the ammeter A, and the contact 52 is connected as by a conductor 54 to one side of the lights 55, the other side of the lights 55 being connected to the ground.

A slide operating lever is mounted on a shaft 5l carrying a knob 58, and the lever 55 is connected to the slide rod Il by means of a link or connecting rod` 59. rEhe knob 58 and the shaft 5l have a locking means associated therewith in order to prevent unauthorized movement oi the slide l i-l'i. It will be understood that there may be as many switches 45 as are considered necessary or desirable, and that these switches (i6 are held in open position by the normal position of the parts associated therewith. In other words, the switch l may be positioned on the body of the vehicle in a position where it will be held in open position when the hood is closed, and when the hood is opened the spring 41 will close the switch. The switch 46 may also be associate-d with the windows, doors, spare tire, gas tank cap or any other displaceable part of the vehicle, ,so that once the slide lI-M has been set by rocking of the lever 55 to signal operating position no displaceable part oi the vehicle having a signal switch i6 associated therewith may be moved without closing the electric circuit to the signal 4i.

In Figure 4 there is shown a compound switch of the type shown in Figure l which is adapted to be connected to the lighting circuits of buildings. In this `form the electric circuits are shown diagrammatically and the source of current supply is shown as a battery, this being merely for illustrative purposes to show the complete circuits.

A base i0 has a pair of uprights I2 and I3 secured thereto, and a slide comprising a rod il and I4' is slidably carried by the uprights I2 and I3'. A pair of contacts I5 and I6' are secured to the base I0', the contact I5' being connected to the source of current supply I8 by a conductor I'I'. A bridging member I9' is secured to the slide I4' and in one position of the slide this member I9' is adapted to bridge the contacts I5' and I6', as shown in Fig. 4. A conductor 20' is connected to the contact I6' and this conductor 20' has lights 59 connected thereto and also has a main light switch 60 interposed therein. The conductor 20 is connected to a return conductor 6I which is connected to a ground terminal 82 carried bythe base I 9'.

A pair of contacts 33' and 34 are secured to the base Ill', and in this instance the contact 34' is directly connected to the contact I5. A night light 36 is connected as by a conductor 35' to the contact 33', and one end of the conductor 35 is connected to the return conductor 6I through the conductor 20. A bridging contact 82 is carried by the slide member I 4', and in the signal operating position of the slide I4' the bridging contact 62 is adapted to be wiped by the contacts 33 and 34' so as to maintain the night light 36 lighted when the main lighting circuit 20'6I is cut off by movement of the bridging contact I9' from between the two contacts I5' and I6'.

A pair of signal contacts 31 and 38' are mounted on the base I0', the contact 31' being connected directly to the contact I5'. A conductor 49' is connected to the contact 38', and a signal 4I is interposed in this conductor 40' and is connected to one si-de of a signal switch 46' which is biased to closed position by a spring 41'. The other side of the switch 46 is connected as by a conductor 48 to the return conductor 6I. A bridging member 63 is carried by the slide I4', and in the signal operating position of this slide the bridging member 63 is adapted to connect the contacts 31' and 38'. An operating knob 58' is secured in this instance directly to one end of the rod II', although it will of course be understood that the rod II' may be operated from a remote position if desired in a manner somewhat similar to the operation of the rod II.

In the use and operation of the switch construction shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to operate the vehicle in the normal manner, the slide II-I4 is moved, in this instance to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, to a vehicle operating position with the bridging member connecting the contacts I5 and I6 together. In vehicle operating position the bridging member 39 will be disposed away from the contact 31, thus breaking the circuit to the alarm 4I, and the bridging member I9 will be out of engagement with the contact 44, so that any displaceable part of the vehicle associated with a signal switch 46 may be moved without operating the signal 4I. Now assuming that the ignition switch 25 is closed and the operator of the vehicle desires to have gasoline placed in the tank, turning off of the ignition switch 25 will close the circuit from conductor 20, 23, terminal 24, switch arm 30, to terminal 3| and conductor 32. The rod II will bridge the space between the contacts 33 and 34 so that the completed circuit will be made through conductor 35, bulb 36, ground or frame of the vehicle, and thence to the battery I8. A contact 64 is connectedto contact I6, and is adapted to maintain contact with the bridging member I9 sol that movement of the starter switch 22 to closed position will operate the signal 4I through the circuit comprising the conductor 28, starter switch 22, ground, battery I8, conductor I'I, contact 31, bridging member 39, contact 38 and conductor 40.

In the vehicle operating position of the slide II-I4, the contacts SII- 52. will engage each other so that the light switch 5I may be closed to eiect a closing of the lighting circuit of the vehicle.

When the operator of the vehicle desires to lock the vehicle, the ignition switch 25 may be moved to open position, initially lighting the bulb 36 as indicated hereinbefore. The knob 58 is then turned to move the slide II-I4 to signal operating position which is the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the lighting circuit is broken by movement of the contacts 50-52 to the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the lights of the vehicle cannot be operated. In the event the displaceable part of the vehicle associated with the spring-pressed signal switch 46 is displaced the signal 4I will be actuated, the circuit being from the ground to one side of the battery I8, conductor I`I, contact 3T, bridging member 39, contact 38, conductor 40, signal 4I, conductor 42, contact 43, bridging member I9, contact 44, conductor 45, switch 4'6, and conductor 48 to the ground.

The signal switch shown in Fig. 4 operates in a manner similar to the switch shown in Fig. 1, the normal lighting position of the switch being the position shown in this gure, where the source of current supply I8' is connected to the switch 60 through the conductor I'I', contact I5', bridging member I9', contact IE and conductor 20'. In this lighting position of the switch the circuit is broken to the night light 36' and also to the signal circuit including the conductor 40'.

In most stores or other establishments it is the practice to maintain at least one night light in fairly close proximity to the safe, cash register or like repository for money, and it is for this purpose that the night light 36' is provided which will be in a closed circuit including the contacts 34', 33', conductor 35', and conductor 6I, when the slide has been moved to signal operating position in which position the bridging contact 62a will engage between the contacts 33-34' and thus maintain the night light circuit closed.

When the slide II'-I4 is moved to the left as shown in Fig. 4, the bridging contact 63 will be disposed between the signal contacts 31'-38', so that the parts of the building, such as doors, windows or other displaceable parts, associated with the signal switch 46' will upon displacement thereof permit the spring 41' to effect a closing of the signal circuit through the conductor 4G', signal 4I', switch 46 to the return lead or conductor 6I. The signal 4I may be either a visible or an audible signal, and as shown there may be a number of these signals, one remote from another which will be actuated by closing of the switch 46'.

It will be obvious that various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts could be made, which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean to limit the invention to such details, except as particularly pointed out in the claim.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A circuit make and break device comprising a base, a shiftable element slidably mounted on said base and having spaced circuit making and circuit breaking sections, a pair of spring contacts mounted on the base adjacent one end of said element, said one end of the element having a reduced portion whereby the element may be shifted to one position to place the reduced portion between said contacts to allow them to engage and to a second position to place a circuit breaking section between said contacts, a plurality 01"' contacts mounted on the base to engage said element on substantially the saine circumference whereby said element is adapted in said one position tc place a circuit breaking section in engagement with said contacts to open the circuit through them and in said second position to place a circuit making section in engagement with said contacts, a further pair of contacts mounted on the base for engagement with opposite sides of the element and adapted to be connected by a circuit making section in said one position oi the element and to be disconnected by a circuit breaking section in said second position oi the element, a connecter between one of the further pair of contacts and one of said plurality of contacts to interconnect the last mentioned sets of contacts when the said element is shifted to the second position, an additional pair of contacts mounted on said base for engagement with said element adapted to be connected by a circuit making section when the element is in said second position and to be disconnected when the element is in said one position, a second connecter between one of said additional pair of contacts and the other of said further pair of contacts to interconnect the named sets of contacts when the element is in said second position, a pair of spring contacts mounted in spaced relation on the base at one end of Said element so that in said one position the tip of the element engages both of them, said tip being of conducting material to make the circuit between said contacts in said one position of the element, in the second position of said element said tip being withdrawn from said contacts to break the circuit between them.

JOSEPH F. HUSS. 

